PBLA

Porter-Billups Leadership Academy at Regis University to conduct dinner and golf tournament July 27 and 29

July 24, 2013

(DENVER) – From sports royalty like NBA all-star Chauncey Billups and political leaders like the Mayor of Denver Michael B. Hancock, to Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and the Principal Consultant at Sondergard & Associates Ryta Sondergard, this year’s Porter-Billups Leadership Academy (PBLA) at Regis University dinner on July 27 and golf tournament on July 29 includes a who’s who of expected participants.

The PBLA, an organization which provides academic and leadership training to at-risk inner city students in Denver, will conduct its annual PBLA dinner at 5 p.m., July 27 at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver and its annual golf tournament at 7:30 a.m., July 29 at the Cherry Creek Country Club. Sondergard is the honorary chair of the PBLA dinner and 9NEWS Susie Wargin will serve as MC of the July 27 event.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the operations, scholarship and endowment for the PBLA. A host of sponsorship opportunities for the golf tournament and dinner are also available. Visit www.porter-billups.org to view those opportunities.

The PBLA was created to assist at-risk students with academic and leadership potential in achieving the dream of attending college. The Academy grew from a desire to see young people with ability achieve their potential. Both Regis University Head Men’s Basketball Coach and PBLA founder and executive Lonnie Porter and PBLA Co-Executive and NBA All-Star guard Chauncey Billups grew up in inner city neighborhoods. They credit their success to the people who challenged them at a young age to work hard and get an education. The Academy is a way for both men to do for low-income youth what others did for them.

Although the PBLA has an academic focus, PBLA Co-Founder and Director Staci Porter-Bentley notes that the organization also aims to address the needs of the whole child. The afternoon enrichment programming focuses on life skills such as financial literacy, communication, and decision-making. The program also addresses student interests such as art, STEM, health, and community service.

Each summer, Coach Porter and a team of Colorado educators work with youth from grades 4 to 12 for three weeks to develop leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills. Though they may not be straight ‘A’ students, the Academy helps them become leaders among their peers, learn that education is a path to success, and offers the skills to prepare them for college.

Once the students reach college age, additional financial support is needed to ensure qualified students have the resources to receive a college education. The PBLA recognizes this need and extends the Academy’s educational opportunity to include attending Regis University. The ultimate goal of Academy is to awaken students to the opportunities available to them, while encouraging them to be thoughtful and engaged members of their own growth and development.